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Somewhat unsurprisingly those efforts see them as the leaders of their ten-team regional section of the FA Premier Academy League, the Villa currently four points ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who they did lose away to in the league last weekend though. They haven't the found going any harder in the FA Youth Cup either with none of their three matches in this year's competition having gone to extra-time.
Their participation this season got underway with a 3-1 December win at home to Crewe Alexandra in the third round in front of 765 spectators at Villa Park. The Railwaymen took a surprise lead through AJ Leitch on 11 minutes only for the home side to equalise just five minutes later thanks to Andreas Weimann. All the goals in the match coming in the opening half as Barry Bannan scored from the penalty spot after 25 minutes and Weimann bagged his second goal of the game with 36 minutes gone.
A trip to Layer Road and Colchester followed in the fourth round with the Villians progressing courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win with 681 fans in attendance inside the Essex club's soon to be former ground as the U's move to Cuckoo Farm next season. The only goal of the tie coming as late as the 76th minute when Villa striker, and regular scorer, Nathan Delfouneso volleyed home a Marc Albrighton cross.
Next up was the fifth round and a thumping 5-0 win at Villa Park against strong Academy side Ipswich Town, the game being played on the same night as Carlisle were defeating Southend United 2-0 at Brunton Park. Three of the goals on the night coming from that man Delfouneso who notched an impressive hat-trick in front of an excellent crowd of 1,270 spectators.
Delfouneso opened the scoring with 13 minutes gone, Bannan then doubling the home side's advantage on the half-hour mark with an expertly taken free-kick. James Collins made it 3-0 on 58 minutes but then the evening belonged to Delfouneso as he slotted home an easy finish after 72 minutes before claiming the match ball two minutes before the final whistle as he slotted a shot home past Ipswich goalkeeper Andrew Plummer.
While the Villains have only had three games to play the young Cumbrians have made it through five rounds to make it to the final eight of the premier youth competition in England. United having defeated Stockport 2-0, Mansfield 4-1, Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, Manchester United 2-1 and Southend United 2-0 on their fantastic run ahead of the match-up against Aston Villa.
So that's how both sides have reached this stage, and tomorrow night these are the players from which Villa Academy coach Tony McAndrew will choose his starting eleven :
Goalkeepers
Thomas Dau - born 08/09/91, Austrian signed after a trial period
Elliott Parish - born 20/05/90, former Wales under-16 international
Defenders
Nathan Baker - born 23/04/91
Steven Clancy - born 09/03/90, former England under-17 international
Ciaran Clark - born 26/09/89, England under-19 international
William Ricketts - born 06/09/89
Matthew Roome - born 12/10/89
Sam Simmonds - born 17/03/90
Midfielders
Marc Albrighton - born 18/11/89, England under-19 international
Barry Bannan - born 01/12/89, former Scotland under-17 international
Daniel Bradley - born 13/05/91
Harry Forrester - born 02/01/91, England under-17 international
Aaron Griffiths - born 05/02/90
Will Grocott - recently signed left-sided trialist
Dominik Hofbauer - born 19/09/90, Austrian under-18 international
Forwards
James Collins - born 01/12/90
Nathan Delfouneso - born 02/02/91, England under-17 international
Andreas Weimann - born 05/08/91, Austrian under-18 international